Limelight

Year: 2011

Runtime: 101 min

Language: English

Director: Billy Corben

Documentary

During the 1980s in Manhattan, Peter Gatien became a dominant figure in the city’s nightlife, operating influential clubs like the Limelight, Tunnel, Palladium, and Club USA. As a Canadian entrepreneur, his venues drew massive crowds and became emblematic of the era's extravagance and a spirit of defiance. However, his reign faced a strong challenge during Rudolph Giuliani’s crackdown on clubs, leading to a legal conflict and ultimately forcing his exile. Despite his departure, his impact and the legacy of his clubs continue to resonate within the city's vibrant underground scene.

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Timeline & Setting – Limelight (2011)

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Main Characters – Limelight (2011)

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Major Themes – Limelight (2011)

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Rise and fall documentaries like Limelight

Documentaries exploring the ascent and sudden collapse of ambitious figures.If you liked the story of Peter Gatien in Limelight, explore more movies like it that chronicle the ambitious rise and subsequent fall of influential figures. These documentaries capture the energy of success and the melancholy of loss, often set against a specific cultural backdrop.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a linear, chronological path, building from humble beginnings to a zenith of power or influence, before encountering a formidable challenge—often legal, financial, or societal—that leads to an irreversible decline. The emotional journey is one of fascination mixed with inevitability.

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Movies about lost cultural eras like Limelight

Films that capture the spirit and eventual fading of a vibrant subculture.For viewers who enjoyed the atmospheric depiction of 1980s NYC nightlife in Limelight, this section features similar movies that explore a defining cultural scene. These films are nostalgic, reflective, and often document the struggle between underground energy and mainstream forces.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative is less about a single character's arc and more about painting a portrait of a world. It establishes the rules, aesthetics, and spirit of a scene, then details the internal and external pressures that lead to its dilution or end. The journey is one of celebration and eulogy.

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Limelight Summary

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Limelight Timeline

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More About Limelight

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